Improvement in car-steps



with my improvements.

UNITED STATES PATEN'ITOFFIGE CHARLES L. HEYWOOD, OF BELMONT,MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-STEPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,405, dated June 10,1879; application filed December 24, 1878.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. HEYwooD, of Belmont, county of Middlesex,and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Steps for (Jars, which improvements are fully set forthin the annexed specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 represents a view of the car-step Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectionof the same. Fig. 3 is a modification of the invention. Fig. 4 is asection of a step as constructed before my invention.

In steps for cars heretofore the bearing for the foot of the passengeris short or narrow, and a low opening above the surface is made in theback of the step; and the passenger, in order to obtain a firmfoot-hold, puts his foot partly through the narrow opening in the back,as shown in Fig. 4. Frequently his foot becomes fastened therein, inconsequence of which the passenger is liable to lose his balance and tobe thrown off the car and injured.

The object of this invention is to construct the car-step with a back,preventing the passengers foot from passing through and becomingfastened, while at the same time said back is made to allow for taking afull foot-hold, and so that the foot can rise from the stepuninterrupted.

In the drawings, the letter A represents the car-step, and B its back.It may be made of wood entirely, as shown in Fig. 3, with asolid back,as this method of construction will be found convenient in changingsteps already in use, by cutting out a large opening in the rear of theold back and placing behind it a new one; but I prefer in most cases tofurnish an entirely new back instead of the old, which new back 1construct of metal, perforated or with open work, and still be of properstrength and durability.

The object of having said back perforated is to allow the air to passthrough, and lessen the resistance against the side of the car in caseof stormy weather; also to allow the snow to pass off the step morereadily.

The sides E E of the step are made with perforations through them, toallow the air to pass and reduce its resistance in the motion of thecar.

Figs. 1 and 2 show more clearly the construction of my new back ofmetal. It may be made entirely of cast-iron, with suitable smallperforations through it, or it may be of suitable wire net-work D, asshown, or partly of the one and partly the other, as may be mostconvenient to construct.

In all cases it is made to curve rearward, and most prominently at thecentral portion of the step pocket-shaped, as shown at a, so thatplentiful room is allowed to place the foot with a full bearing upon thestep.

Its perforations are made too small for the foot to enter, and its topis curved forward to guide the foot in raisingwith case over the stepabove it, and thereby enabling the passenger to mount the step withperfect safety.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with a car-step, of an open back to allow morefoot-hold, and a guard to prevent the foot from being caught in theopening, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a car-step, of an open perforated guard,constructed substantially as shown, so as to prevent the foot passingthrough the steps, and to act as a guide in raising it to the next step,as herein shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this 10th day of December,1878.

CHARLES L. HEYWOOD. In presence of- FRANCIS S. DYER, R. BOEKILEN.

